Halo Infinite, Battlefield 2042 and Vanguard go to war

Everything you need to know about Battlefield 2042 gameplay, Call of Duty Beta and Halo Infinite. Which shooter will come out on top this Christmas?

It’s the year of the first-person-shooters. We’ve seen the battle of the betas and had our first taste of gameplay, but who will come out on top? Battlefield, Call of Duty and Halo Infinite are all coming out before Christmas, and they’re going to have to fight tooth and nail for every player.

Playstation and Xbox players alike must pick a side, but only one title can emerge victorious. Will it be the World War II-inspired Vanguard, the eagerly anticipated Halo or the futuristic Battlefield 2042? Let’s see how they stack up.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

With a November 5th release date, Call of Duty Vanguard is the first of the first-person-shooters to hit the battlefield. After an interactive launch event in Call of Duty: Warzone, the hype has been building and the juggernaut is in full flow. But, momentum slowed a little in the form of the game’s closed Beta.

Reaction was… let’s say… mixed. With just a single map and some glitchy, slow gameplay it was clear that the game was a long way from finished. The full game promises the chance to “rise on every front” and play in the Pacific, Russia and North Africa – plus the beta only gave players a flavour of multiplayer elements.

Our verdict: it’s too early to tell. We all know the game will be slicker on release. Plus, Vanguard’s Warzone integration is obviously huge – grinding the modes and maps will make you even more formidable when you drop into the big team battle royale. Whether it’s worth the battle pass, is your decision. 

Battlefield 2042

Battlefield’s E3 launch was full of surprises and excitement. Firstly, the new game will not feature a campaign mode – it’ll be multiplayer only. The addition of extreme weather events to the game promises plenty of extra carnage too!

The beta went live this week and – surprise, surprise – the community was divided. Despite players firing over 17 billion bullets, calling in nearly 11 million Rangers, and jumping into almost 95 thousand tornadoes, many in the community are calling for a delay to the game’s release.

On the other side of the argument, it drew praise for slick gameplay as well as the chaotic fun provided by weather systems that can alter the map at any time. It looks like an incredibly intense playing experience – one that we can’t wait to try!

Halo Infinite

It’s been nearly 6 years since we had a new Halo game, so the hype is naturally off the charts. But, we think the game might just live up to it! Despite the feverish atmosphere among Halo fans, the reaction to the multiplayer Halo Infinite beta was almost universally positive. Fair play 343 industries!

We’ve heard very little about the campaign or the return of Master Chief himself. But, that won’t stop pre-orders going through the roof. If you own an Xbox Series X, you’ll have the chance to play the most highly anticipated FPS for years on Next Gen. And it will be available on the Xbox Game Pass on release!

It’s clearly the most hyped game on the list, with the biggest chance of disappointment. But, it has been 6 years in the making and we have a feeling that it’s going to blow the competition out of the water (sorry PlayStation players!)

The Stakester Verdict

Let’s be real: none of these will be bad games. Hours of fun await anyone who picks any of them. If you’re after a new experience, Battlefield 2042 and its extreme weather events might be the right choice. If you’re a Warzone junkie then get Vanguard and get grinding. But, the real treat awaits for Xbox players. 

Halo is one of the most iconic FPS’s ever produced. And if you’re able to grab a copy of Halo: Infinite for Christmas, we think it’ll be one of the best gifts ever!